Kearney breaks Cup record

Vermont freestyler captures 11th straight World Cup moguls event

January 20, 2012

WILMINGTON - American freestyle skier Hannah Kearney picked up her 11th straight World Cup victory Thursday in the moguls competition at Whiteface Mountain, setting the record for the longest freestyle win streak.

Switzerland's Conny Kissling previously held the record.

"A win today is a testament to persevering and mental strength because I had the two worst days of training of my life probably," Kearney said. "Then today to pull it together is very satisfying."

Article Photos

Hannah Kearney makes her way through the Whiteface Mountain moguls course Thursday on the way to winning her record-breaking 11th straight FIS Freestyle World Cup event. (Enterprise photo — Mike Lynch)

Mikael Kingsbury of Canada took first place in the men’s mogul competition Thursday at Whiteface Mountain. (Enterprise photo — Mike Lynch)

Kearney, of Norwich Vt., said rain on Tuesday followed by frigid temperatures the following day created sheer ice on the course. Weather conditions caused delays in training sessions both days, but Kearney said conditions were much improved for Thursday's event.

"This is a tricky course in that it's pretty straight forward, not even that steep but firm," Kearney said. "You need sharp edges and you just have to be able to control yourself because it's easy to get out of control when it's so quick and slippery."

Canadian Justine Dufour-LaPointe took second place and Nikola Sudova of the Czech Republic took third in the women's competition.

Fact Box

World Cup Freestyle schedule

Friday

Aerials competition

at Olympic Jumping Complex,

Lake Placid

Ladies qualifications, 3:15-4 p.m.

Men's qualifications, 5:55-6:55 p.m.

Ladies semifinals, 8:15-8:30 p.m.

Men's semifinals, 8:35-8:50 p.m.

Ladies finals, 8:55-9:02 p.m.

Men's finals, 9:02-9:10 p.m.

Awards, 9:20 p.m.

Saturday

Aerials competition

at Olympic Jumping Complex,

Lake Placid

Ladies qualifications, 3:15-4 p.m.

Men's qualifications, 5:55-6:55 p.m.

Ladies semifinals, 8:15-8:30 p.m.

Men's semifinals, 8:35-8:50 p.m.

Ladies finals, 8:55-9:02 p.m.

Men's finals, 9:02-9:10 p.m.

Canadian Mikael Kingsbury placed first in the men's moguls by beating American Patrick Deneen. The 19-year-old Kingsbury has won all four World Cup moguls races this season. Canadian Philippe Marquis was third.

"It's four in a row now, so I'm super consistent," Kingsbury said. "The type of snow all my young career I was skiing on that ... so I know skiing on ice and my ski was sharp good today. So I'm happy with the win."

For Deneen, it was his top finish of the season.

"The weather has been super challenging here," he said. "When it rains like that and gets super cold, we think of that as typical Lake Placid weather. That seems to happen here but they brought in a really good crew to make the course just really nice and buffed out."

Deneen said he's off to a slow start this season.

"Pretty much, it's been bad luck," he said. "I might get a bad call from a judge, then the next event I just won't ski very well. So it's good to get things on the right track now and today being able to put down three really good runs. So it was a good day."

U.S. moguls head coach Scott Rawles was excited by Thursday's results.

"We had a great day today; we had eight women make the final and four men," Rawles said. "We were in contention for four podiums and got two, so I'm super stoked on that. With Hannah winning 11 in a row, she's doing historical things, and with good showings from our new skiers, we have a lot to look forward to both next week in Calgary and the following week in Deer Valley, Utah."

Both Kearney and Kingsbury lead the FIS Freestyle World Cup standings for moguls skiers.

World Cup competition resumes today with aerials at the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex in Lake Placid.